It may be a little late in arriving thanks to the lockout but the NHL season is finally upon us.

Over half a calendar year has passed since the Los Angeles Kings -- the eighth seed in the Western Conference -- completed an improbable run at their first Stanley Cup title. The Kings ousted the New Jersey Devils in six games and they'll try to become the first team to win consecutive championships since the Detroit Red Wings claimed back-to-back Cups in 1997 and '98.

The 48-game regular season kicks off on Saturday and the campaign will be a sprint for the playoffs. Due to the compacted schedule, it wouldn't be shocking to see Los Angeles or other teams considered to be Stanley Cup contenders miss the postseason this spring.

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